Improvement in hand corn - huskers



. H. -L. H ALL Hand Corn-Huskers.

Patented-Feb. 25, 1873.

VA names.

AMPHOTO-L/THOGRAPHIC caNn'uma/ms moans) PATENT OFrIoFJ S AT f HENRY-L. HALL, or WOODBRIDGE, IOWA,

I MPROVEMENT IN HAND CORN-HUSKERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,157, dated Februarv 25, 187'}.

- To all whomv it may concern:

: Be it known that I, HENRY L. HALL, of i=lVoo'dbridge,in the county of Cedar and State -oflowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in flushing-Gloves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingforming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the right hand, and Fig. 20f the left hand, with their respective gloves applied. Fig. 3 represents the right-hand fin ger-claw; Fig. 4, the right-hand thumb-claw, Fig. 5, the left-hand finger-claw; and Fig.6, the left-hand thumb-claw.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

This invention relates to that class of cornhuskers constructed in the form of gloves or parts of gloves, with claws attached for the purpose of catching and stripping the husk;

and is an improvement upon the devices patented, respectively, by A. W. Preston, June 18, 1867, and by myself, April 6, 1869, in both of which a right-hand glove or thumb-and-finger cot is employed. The nature of my presentimprovement consists in the employment of a left-hand glove or thumb-and-finger cot having claws both upon the thumb and forefinger, in combination with said right-hand glove or thumb-and-finger cot, also provided with claws upon the thumb and forefinger, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 represents a right hand wearing my husking attachment, which, as there shown, consists of a cot, A, adapted to receive the two first fingers of the hand, a thumb-cot, A, and a wristband by which to fasten it upon, the hand; the finger-cot provided with a bifurcated claw, D, Fig. 3, the thumb-cot with a claw, E, Fig. 4:, and both thumb and finger cots preferably lacing up on their rear side, after the manner shown in Frestons patent above referred to. Fig. 2 represents a left hand wearing the attachment which I use upon that hand, said attachment consisting of a forefinger-cot, B, a thumb-cot,

B and a wristband; the forefinger-cot being provided with a claw, F, Fig. 5, and the thumbcot with another, G, Fig. 6.

Of course, the third and fourth fingers of the right hand, and the second, third, and fourth of the left hand, might be covered by the glove, if preferred, but it would be an unnecessary waste of material, and would only confine and cramp those fingers to no purpose,

as with my apparatus they are not liable to injury, and need no shield.

The form of the claws and the plates by which they are supported and fastenedto the gloves is preferably as represented in Figs. 3, 4:, 5, and 6, respectively, although susceptible of modification, ifdesired. It will be observed that on the right hand the claw-plate D eX- tends across and rests upon two fingers, and is supported by them both when in operation a fact which conduces greatly to its perfect 7 practical working.

The construction of the right-hand glove, as above described, is substantiallythe same as that heretofore patented by me, as modified in accordance with the lacing feature of .Preston, whose patent I now own. The thumb-cot and claw for the left hand are likewise substantially the same as shown in my former patent. The substantial difference between my present invention and those referred to consists in the addition of the forefinger-cot and claw for the left hand, and their use in combination with the other devices.

It will'be observed by a glance at the drawing, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, that the several claws employed are all of different size, shape, and construction. This is not accidental,but is the result of their different functions, and has been found necessary, by a long course of experiment and practical use, to adapt them to do their work perfectly. So, it will be seen, the claws employed upon the left hand are not at all the counterparts of those employed on the right hand, but are adapted to their spe oific work. Now, in husking, the right hand performs the main work, and the operation of the left hand is, as it were, subordinate to it, being simply to finish the work left undone by the right hand. The right hand could finish that work itself, but is not in position to do it until the ear is turned round in the left hand.

It has not heretofore been supposed that any specific advantage would accrue from a left-hand glove and hooks or claws, and con, sequently they have not been used. They do, however, perform an important function, in

' to finish its work.

1 perience has shown me that I was in error,

and that the device is of importance.

In husking with my improved device the left hand first grasps the ear, and the right hand strips the major part of the husk therefrom; then, without changing the position of the ear, the right hand seizes it, andthe left hand strips ofi' the remaining husk. They do not perform the work at the same instant, but first one operates and then the other; and they are constructed and adapted. thus to follow one another and each execute the work that the other is not adapted conveniently to do. It is not sufficient that the left hand is provided with a thumb-claw, for the position and operation of the forefinger is such that it should be shielded and provided with a claw to catch into the husk and assist the thumb in grasping it. The perfect device therefore consists in the combination of the parts adapted to the right hand with the parts adapted to the left hand, bywhich the whole operation is easily and readily performed, just as the combination of a right and left leg not merely duplicates the parts but increases their powers a hundred-fold.

I y do not claim as my present invention the use of a right-hand glove or cot having claws for the thumb and forefingers, nor the use of a left-hand cot having a thumb'claw purpose set forth.

HENRY L. HALL.

. Witnesses:

D. J. POWERS, L. N. FARWELL. 

